Owen left out of England squad again

[Shaggy]

England manager Fabio Capello has left Michael Owen out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Owen was not included in the squad for September's wins over Andorra and Croatia following injury and illness.

But the 28-year-old has played in all of Newcastle's six games since then and scoring five goals this season.

Joe Cole is out with a foot injury but Steven Gerrard returns and Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips earn recalls.

Jimmy Bullard and David Bentley make way for Gerrard and Wright-Phillips, who have been in fine form for Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.

Scott Carson replaces the injured Paul Robinson as Capello's third-choice goalkeeper, while David Beckham retains his place and Wayne Rooney has proved his fitness after an ankle injury.

Theo Walcott and Emile Heskey, both of whom impressed against Andorra and Croatia, retain their places.

Following two victories from their opening two qualifiers, England play Kazakhstan at 1715 BST on Saturday in front of what is expected to big a record international crowd at the new Wembley.

Capello's men then face Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday at 1930 BST.

Owen's omission will raise questions about his international future under the Italian manager.

The striker's only appearance during Capello's reign came as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat by France in March.

England squad: James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham), Carson (West Brom); Brown (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lescott (Everton), Upson (West Ham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Heskey (Wigan), Crouch (Portsmouth), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth).

[Joe King]

Heskey and Crouch up front :rock:

[the rev leeroy brown]

capello must have some deep dislike of owen. he says he wants strikers who do more than just score goals but owen does that. owen in great form but still left out?!?! he must have pissed off capello somehow.

[dww]

I don't see why anyone is surprised - Owen doesn't fit the system Capello is trying to play as he is nether fast enough to stretch defenses anymore or capable of holding the ball up/flicking it on in the manner of Heskey and Crouch.

The omission that I think is wrong is Ashley Young. The inclusion I think wrong is Defoe.

[Shaggy]

What does Young have to do to get in?!

[the rev leeroy brown]

capello says he doesn't pick players out of reputation or loyalty etc..... but on current form. if thats the case then owen and defoe are probably the two most inform english strikers in the game right now. young should have been included too but beckham and rooney should have been ommitted. both are having a shocking run of form.

[dww]

What does Young have to do to get in?!

I can only assume he is shagging Capello's wife.

[JohnDoe]

Young should be in the first team, not just the squad.

And what the hell is Jenas doing there.

[Joe King]

I can only assume he is shagging Capello's wife.

That logic can be used to explain why Kuyt plays every week for us bite ya fuckers, bite!

[anfieldanfield]

I'd play Crouch and Defoe up front.

[-V-]

Owen isn't on form and needs a good run so im not surprised. No doubt that if he stays injury free and scores a few goals then he will be back in the team

[Joe King]

Rooney and Heskey up front. Just like the team that played against Croatia.

[Bari]

Young should be in, Jenas is a joke pick. Be interesting to see; Barry with Lampard and Gerrard ahead of him, all 3 are playing great football. I'm really really happy for Owen.

[Gingawaria]

Owen isn't on form and needs a good run so im not surprised. No doubt that if he stays injury free and scores a few goals then he will be back in the team


He is on form though, up until this weekend he seemed to be the only Newcastle player scoring.

[kev776]

5 goals in 8 games for a shit team and that is "not in form" dear oh dear.

[PTP]

how the fuck does Ashley Young not get into this team!!! - he needs to sign for a big club, Liverpool would suit him :source:

[dww]

Actually the more that I see that squad the odder it becomes. Assuming that Capello doesn't have my only semi-rational dislike of Defoe the questionable inclusions include: Lescott, Upson, Jenas and Beckham and even Downing (even though I like him as a player actually).

Owen and Young are the obvious exclusions but Wheater would appear a better option that Lescott or Upson at centreback.

[Red Chilli]

how the fuck does Ashley Young not get into this team!!! - he needs to sign for a big club, Liverpool would suit him :source:

When fit, I can see why Joe Cole is picked ahead of Young, but seeing as Cole is injured it does seem a bit odd. :eyebrow:

[bobbyfallon]

I'd play Crouch and Defoe up front.

has to be these two up front

defoe is a class act and that cunt crouch is making me eat my own words and is having a great season too. fair play big man


:handshake:

[Joe King]

When fit, I can see why Joe Cole is picked ahead of Young, but seeing as Cole is injured it does seem a bit odd. :eyebrow:

He might pick Downing on the left again. Maybe Young under O Neill works better than Young under Capello. We do know Capello is very strict when it comes to tactics and maybe Young isn't quite tactical aware compared to the others.

http://www.f4group.co.uk/images/richard_keys.jpg

[Kenneth]

Actually the more that I see that squad the odder it becomes. Assuming that Capello doesn't have my only semi-rational dislike of Defoe the questionable inclusions include: Lescott, Upson, Jenas and Beckham and even Downing (even though I like him as a player actually).

Owen and Young are the obvious exclusions but Wheater would appear a better option that Lescott or Upson at centreback.

Those 3 are ridiculous. Lescott's dip in form is pretty recent, but Upson and Jenas have been toilet for years.

[PTP]

When fit, I can see why Joe Cole is picked ahead of Young, but seeing as Cole is injured it does seem a bit odd. :eyebrow:

Of course, Joe cole is the one outstanding 'flair' English player, but surely Young has to be 2nd to him to cover.

It's something England have done for years and years - they never seem to have a system - more like they just pick what they think to be the best XI players available

other countries try to have a system and if a player is injured then the look for the right option to cover it - eg, for arguments sake, Czech Republic for years played big jan koller up front as a target man with say baros feeding off him - if koller was out they would bring in another target man as cover to keep the same system, even tho there was probably better players to cover kolller they wouldn't suit the system

[dww]

To be fair I think Capello has been trying to instill a philosophy into the team of a solid back unit with a free attacking midfield setup to support a main striker (sometimes with Rooney closer to the striker). The fact that it is only really having an effect after a few games isn't a huge surprise. I that sense I think only the omission of Young when Cole dropped out is possible unexpected from a tactical point of view.